Farnsfield really on track
by Paul Barker, 11th May 2008

After their fourth consecutive positive result, Farnsfield lead the way in the Bassetlaw Championship League and on the evidence of what we have seen so far, it is going to take one hell of a side to shift them.

When the Nottinghamshire Premier League began, everyone expected Farnsfield to be a part of it, but they finished too low in the Bassetlaw League to gain election for the inaugural season and have continued to play in that combination ever since.

However there is a good reason for that and the fact is that whilst some teams have thrown money at it to gain admission, Farnsfield have devoted their attention to building up a thriving youth policy and over the last three seasons the signs have been there that it is ready to bare fruition and this term looks as though they might have reached the pinnacle.

As many as six teenagers are performing regularly in the side which is expertly captained by Notts. star Paul Franks and to ‘nick’ a slogan from a national company, ‘The future looks bright, the future looks Farnsfield’.

Their latest match saw them gain a winning draw over Retford who after suffering relegation from the Premier League have suffered an horrendous start to life back in the Bassetlaw. This however was much better by Retford and the signs are there that they may well have turned the corner.

Batting first Retford made 165 for 9 which is not an earth shattering total but much better than their previous two attempts which had seen them dismissed for less that a hundred. Pascal Broadley was top scorer with 45, but good bowling by Lewis Saxby (3 for 49) and Michael Bell (3 for 14) always kept Farnsfield in control. However they could not separate the final pair which cost them two points, but it was a good all round performance in the field no matter.

This target proved little or no obstacle to Farnsfield and South African wicket-keeper Damion Crowley again batted assuredly to make 61 and with great support from Paul Franks (55 n.o.) the victory margin was reached with seven wickets to spare. It was another good performance from this youthful and aspiring combination and the future does look very bright for them.

A side that were considered as likely to make a challenge for honours this campaign, Kiveton Park have not made the most auspicious of starts and slumped to another defeat at the hands of Thoresby Colliery at Stone Close.

Batting first, Thoresby were well served by Nigel Burkitt who contributed a well made 80 runs and excellent support came from Nayeem Ahmed with 57 as they piled up a highly respectable 240 for 9. Lee Brooks was the best of the Kiveton attack taking 4 for 52 but at the moment they appear to lack the potency that was there last season, but it is early days yet.

In reply Kiveton slumped to just 148 all out with Australian import Ed Brown top scoring on 30. Azar Hussain with 3 for 29 did the bulk of the damage for Thoresby as they won comfortable by 92 runs.

Marshalls have been the surprise packet so far this season and without any doubt, don’t expect the ‘bubble to burst’ because there wasn’t one there in the first place. In fact if they possessed a dynamic strike bowler, everyone would fear them.

In a good match against Waleswood, they came out on top by 23 runs in a game that fluctuated from one side to the other for most of the game. Batting first their admirable skipper Paul Van den Heuvel who has done so much to build up a terrific spirit in the club once again set things moving well as he scored a superb 77. Mark Whitlam added good support with an excellent 66 whilst Rana Raff was the thorn in their side taking 4 for 46 in a good stint of bowling.

Waleswood made a good response with Martin Long (35) and Amer Riaz (33) but the slow left arm wiles of Gary Andrews who took (4 for 32) in an excellent spell proved just a few too many for them as they fell just short on 185 all out. Once again this was a fine match with both sides making a superb contribution to it.

In a low scoring encounter at Ordsall, Bridon overcame Cutthorpe by 30 runs to record a superb victory. On the normally batting friendly wicket it is surprising that both teams and twenty wickets fell for just 272 runs and it could have resulted from bad batting, inspired bowling or just one of those days. The one thing than can be countered out is that the wicket was dodgy, it never is here!

Batting first, Bridon had a lot to thank Stuart Parkin for. He made 38 vital runs whilst wickets were tumbling all around him to Chris Pemberton (7 for 39) and Andy Knowles (3 for 47). The final total of 152 looked flimsy to say the least, but there is an excellent will to win in the Bridon ranks and one could never write the outcome off.

And so it transpired and had it not been for carelessness by the Bridon attack, which conceded 32 extras the victory, would have been even more comprehensive. Wayne Spooner was the spearhead and he proved virtually unplayable, taking 5 for 14 and with brilliant support coming from Colin Hurst (2 for 16) and Simon Davison (2 for 41), Cutthorpe were bundled out for just 120. Bridon look to be a strong combination and the one thing that is certain is that they will finish much higher up the table than they did last season.

Glapwell pulled off a comfortable five wicket win over a struggling Notts. & Arnold Amateur side at Goosedale with plenty to spare. Batting first, Notts. & Arnold were dismissed for a paltry 111 with only Peter Evans (40) saving them from total humiliation. Matt Hall bowled superbly to take 4 for 17 and Chris Barrett was also in fine form, taking 3 for 27.

This target proved no problem and Richard Hope (48) and Jeff Wharton (36 n.o.) eased Glapwell to a convincing victory against a side who are badly short of confidence at the moment.

In Division 2, Caythorpe 2^nd and Eckington look to be the two strongest sides at the moment, but nothing seems to have settled yet and it is difficult to predict. Caythorpe 2^nd absolutely slaughtered Mansfield & Pleasley by seven wickets in a canter to remain undefeated and it was the manner of their win that was so impressive.

Mansfield & Pleasley who had started the season well were simply ‘not at the races’ and were bowled out for just 65 runs. Daniel North was once again the pick of the Caythorpe attack taking 5 for 11 and proving totally unplayable and in reply Josh Bolus quickly cleared any doubts there might have been with an impressive 31 as Caythorpe strolled to 66 for 3 and victory.

Eckington managed a winning draw at The Fieldings, but Mansfield Hosiery Mills 2^nd were holding on desperately at the close. Batting first Eckington had skipper Andy Thompson in prime form contributing a typically flamboyant 72 and Juan Pierre Devilliers the South African who looks a superb capture added a brilliant 51 as they totalled an impressive 238 for 8. Darren Johnson with 4 for 44 was once again the pick of the Hosiery Mills attack.

At no time was this score ever threatened as Hosiery Mills held out doggedly on 131 for 8. Michael Rodgers was the hero for the Mills and the thorn in the Eckington side batting steadily and sensibly for an unbeaten 33 whilst Luke Dawson with 3 for 39 did his best in a vain attempt to force a victory for Eckington.

The old slogan that catches win matches could never have been more prevalent than what happened at Elm Avenue where Ransome and Marles beat Worksop by four wickets. Ransomes simply held everything and it was as if their hands were made of flypaper, whilst Worksop seemed to have adopted an old Tommy Steele song ‘Butterfingers’ as their new anthem.

Worksop moved away to a good start with the Zimbabwean Thomas Dangarembizi looking in fine form, but when he was dismissed for 34, the wheels fell off big style. Only a courageous unbeaten knock of 33 by wicket-keeper Andy Kendall added an air of respectability to their score that limped along to 133 all out. Gary Lambert (3 for 53) and Ankush Mohod who had only arrived from India the day before was mightily impressive with his leg spin as he picked up 4 for 27.

Mohod had only half finished his job however and right from the start of his innings, he looked a player of real quality, but Worksop had really only themselves to blame. With only a meagre total to defend, the last thing they needed was dropped catches, and Mohod was spilled four times as he reached an unbeaten 98 when the victory was achieved.

He has enough class and when he gets used to the wickets in this country he should prove a massive asset for Ransomes. Worksop had their chances here and if he had been dismissed early, there must have been grave doubts whether Ransomes would have reached their rather puny target. John Smith (3 for 44) and Thomas Dangarembizi (3 for 44) bowled splendidly for Worksop but they were badly let down in the field. Keep an eye open however for Mohod, because my guess is that we will be hearing his name mentioned a lot more before the season ends.

A good game was held at Burmah Road with plenty of runs scored and the home side Blidworth registering a winning draw over an improving Whitwell. Blidworth piled up the runs scoring an impressive 279 for 9 before the overs ran out with Dave Willcock (57), Andy Watson (97) and Hamanyo Kabir (40) all batting magnificently. Whitwell’s attack stuck to the task well however considering this onslaught and Darren Westerby (5 for 72) and Mark Goodwright (3 for 35) both bowled impressively.

In reply, Whitwell at last found some batting form and whilst they never challenged this huge score that did a fine job in reaching 200 for 6. Mark Forrest (42), Tom Chester (50) and Christian Foster (38) all batted well and a chink of light at the end of the tunnel might well have appeared for Whitwell on the evidence of this.

Papplewick and Linby 2^nd scrambled to a three wicket win in a low scoring encounter against West Indian Cavaliers 2^nd . Batting first, the Cavaliers made only 113 all out with Asad Hussain propping up a dismal batting display with 35. Steve Alford (4 for 21) and Rohan Shah (4 for 30) virtually made the ball talk, but it was a rather inept display by the Cavaliers.

Not that Papplewick did much better as they struggled badly before reaching 114 for 7 and victory. Only Jamie Peat (32) made much impact, although Rohan Shah (24) and Mark Alford (21) also did their bit but failed to go through with things when looking set. Asad Ishtiaq (3 for 25) and Sheldon Guerra (3 for 29) both bowled tidily and they must have wished for another twenty runs to play with which might have made a massive difference.

Anston were another side that registered a comfortable win over Welbeck 2^nd at Sookholme Road. Batting first Welbeck were dismissed for just 120 with Adam Crowle (3 for 21) and Ian Barley (3 for 28) both bowling splendidly.

Despite losing a few early wickets, Anston were never in much trouble and a typical swashbuckling unbeaten 59 by Andrew Ruczenczyn soon saw them reach 123 for 4 and victory.